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Korea’s KT launches app store in Japan in partnership with DoCoMo

Korean operator KT has become the first in the country to extend its mobile app store roots overseas after it launched a platform in Japan, in partnership with the country’s largest operator, NTT DoCoMo, according to the Korea Herald.

The Japan-based app store, ‘Olleh Market W’, has gone live as KT seeks to boost its business overseas and develop its content offering. The operator is positioning the new store as an opportunity for Korean developers and publishers to reach into new markets.

In addition to using its app store content from Korea, KT is will also include 120 apps from cross-operator app store K-Apps, the Herald reports. Content within the K-Apps store is also used by rivals SK Telecom and LG Uplus.

The deal is part of an agreement that KT and DoCoMo inked back in August 2011. That tie-in itself is part of the broader ‘One Asia Super Inter-Store’, an app content sharing initiative between KT, DoCoMo and China Mobile.

Korean developers were previously held back by a number of regulations which have been lifted in recent times. A ban on gaming apps was withdrawn in 2011, while last month saw one rule preventing anonymous comments and another requiring websites to track user IDs abolished, freeing content producers in the country.

The move from KT is another example of the technology community in the country branching out. Indeed, earlier this year, Google pledged to provide know-how and experience to help Web content creators take advantage of opportunities overseas.